I FINALLY ordered a copy tonight ($4.72 TOTAL) and it will be the limit of my book budget this month. I am gonna read it for myself and gonna find out if Stanley really teaches "easy-believism" and "cheap grace." Based on what I hear him say on podcasts he does not, but we shall see. However even if he does the book has a 1990 pub date and perhaps he has changed his views since then.
Stanley also republished his book on eternal security in 2002 and it says exactly the same thing as the 1990 edition. He had not changed his position.
Chapter 8 of his book is entitled "For Those Who Stop Believing". Note that you cannot stop believing unless you once believed. This chapter is filled with reasons while you should not stop believing. But for him who does stop believing, he says: "the fact remains that he is forgiven", page 79 of your 1990 edition. This chapter is so filled with why people should not stop believing, that some people miss what he says about those who do stop believing.
Most doctrine of eternal security Christains believe a true Christian cannot (or will not) stop trusting Christ; if someone who claims to be a Christian and then stops trusting Christ, he was not really a true Christian. Stanley believes a true Christian can stop trusting Christ and die in unbelief and will still be forgiven. This is a direct contradition to what most doctrine of eternal security Chrsitains believe.
If this is true then what you have said about chapter 8 is out of context. However I will need to read it for myself. If Charles teaches one can stop believing and live as a devil and unbeliever than he is wrong!!!
I do not know if you have noticed but Erwin Lutzer makes some interesting comments in some of his books that borderline this. In "Your Eternal Reward" he says that people can somehow live in sin, and lose their reward, yet make it to heaven. He is not Lordship by those remarks. However all of us are sinners and need God's grace. Some of the Lordship types preach we can be perfect and live in a perfect state before God will accept us. his is heresy if it is taught! However I may have misunderstood some Lordship types.
I am afraid this is a case where both Charles Stanley and Dan Corner are teaching error on the same subject. Dr. Stanley in his early years as far as I can see taught the truth. However in his now later years has slid from that and actually teaches heresy. It is always sad to see someone fall from the truth.
Put your trust in the word of God, not men and their books.
1John 3:9
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit (practice) sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot (practice) sin, because he is born of God.
2Peter 2:1
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
have to remember that Dr Stanley holds that a real Christian can lose his faith in jesus, commit Apostasy, yet the Lord will still save him in the end...
he holds to the heresy called Milliniual exclusion, in that God will NOT allow someone like that to enter into the Millinium in a glorified state, but will allow him to go into the eternal Kingdom afterwards!
And this WAS NOT in order to dsicuss that view, as it is against BB!
I used to believe in eternal security, but now believe in the perseverance of the saints.
We are kept by the power of God, and we will continue in the faith if we are truly saved.
That does not mean we do not have times of doubt, etc, but we will not get "saved" and then never darken the doors of a church again nor show any fruit of salvation.
I know families like to remember a time when a profession was made and cling to that, but the proof is always in the pudding.
Thing about eternal security is that it roots my salvation into the Soveregn will of God, and the Cross of Chrsit, and sealed by the Spirit, so ALL of the trinity secures me forever!
My behaviour will relate to eternal rewards for deeds/works done/not done while here, but does NOT affect eternal salvation!
I did. So Stanley teaches that unfaithful believers here will be in Hell and then come into heaven? Disobedient brethren will lose their rewards, but if they trust in Christ for their salvation they will be saved.
Stanley DOES NOT teach that one can made a profusion of faith and have not fruit and be saved. I have Podcasts of him CLEARLY teaches against this false doctrine of cheap grace.
Although I do not agree with Dan Corner on his belief that there is no such thing as eternal security, I do agree with him that Charles Stanley is teaching heresy in his book.
The Word of God reveals to us that there is no darkness in God's Holy Kingdom.
So Charles' teaching on outer darkness being in the kingdom is ridiculous.
No, its that they will miss the resurrection when jesus returns. miss being part of the Millinium, and will be raised up after that, int he eternal state...